Cincinnati Open Quarterfinals
In a stunning turn of events, the reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated from the Cincinnati Open during the quarterfinals, falling to Elena Rybakina in straight sets, with scores of 6-1 and 6-4. Rybakina showcased her impressive game, dominating the match with a commanding first set where she lost only one game, and completed the match in just 74 minutes, delivering 11 aces throughout.
This victory reinforces Rybakina’s resurgence, following her strong showing at the National Bank Open in Toronto earlier this month, where she advanced to the semifinals. The 2022 Wimbledon champion will now face Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, who secured her spot after overcoming Anna Kalinskaya with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
Other Match Highlights
In another exciting matchup, Spanish talent Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over Andrey Rublev with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 scoreline, ensuring his advancement to the next round. Alcaraz initially took control of the match by winning the first set, but Rublev responded strongly to equalize the match in the second. Just when it seemed that Alcaraz was about to close out the game, breaking Rublev to lead 5-3, the Russian player fought back with a crucial break of his own. Ultimately, a costly double fault from Rublev opened the door for Alcaraz to claim victory after hitting 11 aces. Alcaraz will now await the outcome of the match between Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev to learn his semifinal opponent.
Additionally, Veronika Kudermetova made her mark by defeating Varvara Gracheva decisively, posting a score of 6-1, 6-2. She will compete in the semifinals against the winner of the match between Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini.
